Empty property worried about frosts

[Flippertyfloppertyflip]

I’m trying to sell my late MIL’s property. I’ve just reduced the price so hopefully it will sell soon.

In the meantime, I’m worried about the winter. I’m completely clueless about these things, so any help would be welcome.

I’ve turned the water off at the stopcock under the sink. When it gets colder, is there anything else I should do? Do I need the heating on low? Is it even possible to have the heating on, with the water off? Do I need to turn all the taps on to drain the system? Help and thanks.

You need to look at the insurance. When I sold my late mums house they stipulated that the heating system had to be drained and shut down with gas and electricity off within 28 days of it being empty.

There was a house on our cul de sac that was PX to builder and left empty in December
On Christmas Eve the Postman knocked on the house next door (who came to get me) to say there was water coming out of the front door, he peeped through the letter box and there was a LOT of water in there
We had no contaact details for the builder but I had for the people who lived there and via them we managed to contact him. The ceilings had come down and the whole house had to be totally refurbed with new upstairs floors etc. Must have cost thousands and been leaking for a while

I’ve rung the insurers. We can (a) turn the water off and drain the central heating, or (b) keep the water on and have the heating on 15c. The excess changes, depending on which you do, with (a) being the cheapest.

Oh no, no combi or central heating - just a single gas fire and an immersion heater which were put in in the 1980s!

I’d just have the heating on low - I think turning the water off might cause other issues.

Where is the property in the UK and does it get damp ?

If you are trying to sell, a freezing cold damp house is not so appealing.

When we were selling my dad’s apartment we left the heating on low. I got a call from the police one day to say water was pouring out of the front door. The upstairs flat was also empty and their pipes had burst! I lived 300 miles away, it was a bloody nightmare getting it sorted!

Had a similar situation, our insurance stipulated that the heating had to be on low and I had to keep a log of visits.

The boiler cut out between visits due to a power cut. House was damp from condensation. Windows open, heating back on, sorted. I took a reduced offer in the end to minimise the amount of stress in my life having to drive to check on the bloody house as we called it. 2hr round trip

Had a similar situation, our insurance stipulated that the heating had to be on low and I had to keep a log of visits.

The boiler cut out between visits due to a power cut. House was damp from condensation. Windows open, heating back on, sorted. I took a reduced offer in the end to minimise the amount of stress in my life having to drive to check on the bloody house as we called it. 2hr round trip